“You are a liability to him.”

I stay in the prison for the next three days wondering where it all went wrong. I questioned everything I knew about my parents and wondered if everyone was right and I was wrong but it didn’t make any sense to me. Yes, the Campbells did owe us some month’s wages, but it wasn’t the first time they had delayed in paying us our wages. The last time I saw my parents, they were looking forward to my wedding to Derek, it didn’t make any sense for them to sabotage such a big day in my life by killing the Campbells.

I look down on the dried blood on my hands and the image of my parents’ screaming in agony and their lifeless eyes moments later flashes in my mind. The tears start to flow again and sob uncontrollably. That’s how Liana finds me minutes later. “Awn, still crying? Come on Genny, it’s been three days already. You should be praying that the council doesn’t kill you next.”

I stare at Liana in disbelief. She expects me to brush off my parents’ death? “I can’t believe that all you have to say to me after stabbing me in the back like that.” She looks at me with a bored look on her face. “Oh that. Really Genny, you didn’t really think Derek was going to marry you after what your parents’ did? He’s the alpha, he needs strength by his side, not a Luna who’s weak, poor and has criminals for parents.” Liana steps closer to the bars that separate us and looks me dead in the eyes, “You are a liability to him Genevieve, I make him stronger.” She steps back and the nonchalant look returns to her face. “This is the last time we’ll see each other. I wanted us to have this closure on our relationship. Goodbye, Genny.” With that, she turns her back on me and walks away.

Five days in prison and I’m ready to give up on everything. I have no will to go on living. My life is over and I’m ready to accept it. I stare at a spot in the dark prison without seeing anything and wait patiently for my fate. There’s a shout somewhere and running footsteps, then a loud bang and everything goes quiet again. Then I hear a bang in front of my cell and the door completely falls down. I stare in disbelief at the door then gasp when I see a man dressed in all black attire with a ski mask so only his eyes show.

“Wh…Who are y…you?” He says nothing and walks into the cell, towards me. “Did the council send y…you to k…kill me?” The masked man brings out a hatchet from his bag and raises it up. I close my eyes and wait for the blow that will kill me. It doesn’t come. I hear a loud clang and my feet feels freer. He broke the chain on my leg! “The council plans to kill you in the morning. You don’t have much time, leave now.” His voice is a whisper that sends chills down my back.

The masked man crouches till we are at eye level and takes my cold hand in his warm ones. His hands are significantly bigger than mine. “I don’t want to live anymore. I don’t care if the council kills me anyway, my life is over.” I pull my hand away from his and turn away. “What if I told you your parents were framed? Think about that day again.” I instantly turn to him and I see a flash of dark green eyes. “Who are you?” “Doesn’t matter now. You need to get out of here. Now.” With that he grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet just as we hear the shouts of guards coming. The masked man pulls me and we break into a run.

We were able to make it to the woods outside the pack despite being chased relentlessly by the guards and hide in a cave. I shiver and the masked man takes a cape from his bag and wraps it around me. Next he gives me food and stands guard as I eat my first meal in almost six days. “You know they’ll kill you if they find you. Helping a criminal escape is a big crime.” I say. “I owe your parents a lot, consider this as me paying my debt.” I stand and walk to him. “You knew my-“The masked man pulls me against his hard body and pins me to the wall of the cave and at the same time clamps a hand on my mouth. “Shh, I hear someone.”

I stay pinned between the mysterious man and the hard wall for what seems like an eternity before he removes the hand from my mouth and lets out a breath. “Are they gone?” I whisper, “Yeah, they…” His words trail off as he stares at me. I stare back, completely mesmerized by his emerald green eyes. I don’t expect what he does next. I watch as if in a trance as his head slowly lowers to mine and touch my lips, the only barrier between our lips is the part of his mask that covers his mouth.

We stay like that for a while until he jumps back, like I burnt him or like he touched silver. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” I’m about to say something but I’m interrupted by shouts again. The guards are back. The man curses. “I’ll lead them away from you, when I go out, run as fast as you can. You can’t let them get you.” I grab his hand. “They’ll kill you!” “I’ll be fine but you cannot die. Do as I say and you’ll be safe.”

He moves to the entrance of the cave. “Wait!” “What is it n-“I pull down the part of his mask covering his lips and kiss him. He does nothing for some seconds before pulling me close and kissing me back. When he pulls away, his eyes look sad. “Goodbye Genevieve, I wish you happiness.” And then he’s gone.